Mountain Charlis-ton

Mt. Charleston on Monday! The snow was a little icy in places but there was plenty of it! The weather was perfect and we all had a good time "snowing"

Hannah posing. Is that "Magnum" or "Blue Steel"??? Oh, wait, I recognize it now...it's "Le Tigre"
Alex in his thoughtful spot, Really he just didn't want his picture taken right then. Sorry, Alex.
Snow bunnies!
Dustin ponders while Scott tastes his snowy glove, YUM!
Cousin friends, these three love to pal around together!
Hannah and Emma
Hannah, Andy, and Leah
Even though our group was small we had a great time. I never want to go but once I'm up there I have a blast!!
We missed having Grandpa there to help kids up the mountain with his rope.
Grandma wasn't there to get the hot cocoa going for us and help the snowy, wet kids get out of there snow clothes.
You were missed!!!

God Bless the 33FW

As you may have heard the 33 Fighter Wing 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fl lost two F-15 Fighter Jets today. Luckily, the pilots were rescued.....so please pray for my fellow airmen and their families

I am Home from Hawai'i, and it was so much fun!

I am going to do a post for every day I was there so look for them over the next seven days

This is my travel journal: Feb.12; flew out at 11;30 and got the full shakedown from TSA. Met a native oklahoman, who was later denied boarding for being drunk. Also saw a Hawaiian family bringing 10 boxes of krispy cream donuts back to the island. Took the above bus to my hotel. It was sprinkling and I was able to drop my bags, eat the continental breakfast and go see the beach. Not too crowded...YET!


Walked around and learned the area. Went through the beautiful Moana Surfrider Hotel to get to the beach. I took a quick swim in the water and It was cool and clear.

Was able to check in and shower up after 4:00, again walked down to the beach to catch the sunset.

I met a Canadian girl named Nancy and she invited me out to dinner at P.F. Changs. we walked down the beach towards diamond head and caught the hula show you see below. It was great because they explained all the hula moves and between ukulele songs gave a brief Hawaiian history.

Nancy, and I in front of the Duke Kahanamaku statue.Duke was a surf ambassador and won his 2nd and 3rd gold medals for swimming at the 1920 Antwerp olympics

In Hawaii we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with "Aloha," which means with love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world's center of understanding and fellowship.

Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha. You'll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it, and it is my creed. Aloha to you. Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

It was a good first day and I slept so good. What a warm and friendly place

Mt. Charleston

President's Day we went up to the mountains with Hannah and Andy and kids. So fun! I've got lots of pictures but I hope this photo will hold you all until later when I get a chance to post! Good times!!

Well I am here!

Last night under the cover of darkness we made our chinok helicopter ride up north. It was awesome, it was my first chopper ride. And for the first time since ive been gone it hit me, where I am and what im doing. It got real, and thats a good thing this is no place to be complacent. Now dont get me wrong I really am very safe where I am at, and with the job Im will be doing over here. But it was good to get that reality check. I have one kind of funny story from last night. I went to go use the porta potty, behind our new tent. Where our tent is located its right on the border of where we stay and where the local nationals that work here stay. Well I walked in and the first thing I noticed was that there was no urinal, I just thought it was broken or missing. Then I noticed that the toilet had no seat, again Im thinking this just be a really beat up porta potty. Then i finally notice that there are cut outs for your feet to go right next to the hole, and then it hit me that it was a squater porta potty. Because thats what the locals are used to. I think I will stick to the normal ones though. All my love and best wishes Love Mark Jr

PS here is my new address
Belanger, Mark
72nd MP Co.
Camp Bucca
APO, AE 09375

I am an avid gym go-er these days. So, the other day I was doing laundry and I heard one of those annoying klinks (like when your drying overalls) except it was really loud. I go over to the dryer and open it to find that I had grabbed my stack of gym clothes out of my gym bag with my IPOD tucked neatly inside. Although very clean and dry, it was no longer usable. So I got a new IPOD shuffle for Valentines Day. It is a much smaller version of what I had but exactly what I wanted......Thanks Billy (oh yeah and flowers, candy and a card)

Happy Valentine's Day

We hope you are all having a Happy Day!

I'm so grateful to have this blog so we can share what's going on in each other's lives.

Love you all!

Make today special for the one's you LOVE!!

I am flying out tonight

The time has finally come. I can't wait. This is the toll free number to the place I'll be staying<1-866-924-3303> I was hoping to have my new phone so I could post pics . My cell just totally died. so I'll just do one huge post when I get back instead of doing a travel blog. I'll check my e-mail every few days, the place I'm staying has the net. Can't wait to see this mullet head.

Pretzel Hugs

1 bag of pretzels

1 pkg. M&M's

1 pkg. Hershey's hugs or kisses

Place pretzels on a cookie sheet and place a hug on each pretzel. Bake at 200 degrees for 8 min. Take them out of the oven and immediately press two M&M's into the hug! Let them cool for several hours, you can refrigerate to speed the process.

My friend brought us some of these babies at Christmas time and Dustin LOVED them so I thought I'd give it a shot yesterday! A great treat to make with your family! Give 'em a try!!! You'll love them!!!!!

Railroad Tunnel Trail at Lake Mead

This past Saturday we all went on a hike at the Railroad Tunnels trail. It is scenic and very easy, since it follows an old railroad that has since been removed. It is flat and wide and can be hiked or biked. We had a great time. Lunch at the trail head. We had delicious sandwiches and got our gear together. Lots of water and trail mix.

Dustin doing some stretches. (Stretching his scalp that is.)
Two of the heartiest hikers. (These two have actually done K5, which is 3 times higher than K2 in India.)

Daniel, Hannah, Dustin and the Scottmobile on the move.
The back of Hannah, Daniel, Paige, Karley and the rest of the advance team. The Sherpas are bringing up the rear with our tents and crates of food.

Hannah and Daniel. (Hannah pop that knee, this is for publication.)
These are three rare Mountain Goats that are Nevada's state animal. You don't very often get to see one much less three.

Me and Hannah with some goof ball behind us sticking out his tongue. Oh, that is our fearless leader and guide Andy.
Heading into one of the scary tunnels. Ok, they weren't scary at all. In fact very interesting.

The Scottmobile powered by Leah with Dustin taking one of his many 'breaks'.
Scotty the hiker.

We made it to the Dam. Three and 1/2 miles of fun and games. We had a great time and will probably bike it next time.
Little Madeline. She did not quite make it to the end.